<span class="articleThumb floatright"><a href="javascript:openGalleryItemWindow('http://www.theonering.com/gallery/item.sd?iid=2996',740,560,2996);"><img src="http://www.theonering.com/images/medialibrary/peter_j_in_hobbiton.jpg_thumb.jpg"></a><span class="articleThumbCaption">Peter Jackson in Hobbiton</span></span><span class="articleThumb floatright"><a href="javascript:openGalleryItemWindow('http://www.theonering.com/gallery/item.sd?iid=1892',740,560,1892);"><img src="http://www.theonering.com/images/medialibrary/otago001120a.jpg_thumb.jpg"></a><span class="articleThumbCaption">Peter Jackson and Crew at Minas Tirith Set</span></span>It's been officially announced by Peter Jackson that he won't be helming <em>The Hobbit</em>. New Line Cinema has communicated to Peter Jackson that they would no longer be "requiring" his services for <em>The Hobbit</em> and (the more nebulous second) <em>Lord of the Rings</em> prequel. You may remember, that New Line and Jackson are still fighting a lawsuit regarding the "accounting practices" of New Line and how they calculated profit (Jackson asserts that he was shorted millions of dollars)--clearly, this decision by New Line is a distinct result of the fallout from this continuing lawsuit. <p>Despite some of my misgivings regarding the LOTR films, I think this is an amazingly shortsighted move on New Line's part. Without Jackson, the likelihood of any of the faces of LOTR returning to <em>The Hobbit</em> (Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving) is extremely slim. Most likely, this isn't the end of this story, and the outcry from fans I'm sure will be rather deafening--definitely loud enough for New Line to take notice... Here's an excerpt from the article at TheOneRing.net:</p><blockquote>Several years ago, Mark Ordesky told us that New Line have rights to make not just <em>The Hobbit</em> but a second "LOTR prequel", covering the events leading up to those depicted in LOTR. Since then, we've always assumed that we would be asked to make <em>The Hobbit</em> and possibly this second film, back to back, as we did the original movies. We assumed that our lawsuit with the studio would come to a natural conclusion and we would then be free to discuss our ideas with the studio, get excited and jump on board. We've assumed that we would possibly get started on development and design next year, whilst filming The Lovely Bones. We even had a meeting planned with MGM executives to talk through our schedule.

However last week, Mark Ordesky called Ken and told him that New Line would no longer be requiring our services on <em>The Hobbit</em> and the LOTR 'prequel'. This was a courtesy call to let us know that the studio was now actively looking to hire another filmmaker for both projects.</blockquote><p>One question for you. Should the fans take part in any sort of petition to get Jackson to helm<em> The Hobbit</em>? Let us know what you think... click the link below to comment on this article!</p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1163993546">Read the entire article</a></p>

I think a petition is the only honorable thing to do in order to protect the integrity of the films. PJ deserves to take the helm of the Hobbit after his most admirable attempt at the Trilogy. (Note, I say "attempt" because, like most fans, I did have some problems with certain aspects of the story PJ chose to have/not have in the movie, or simply created a sidestory of his own, but for a mortal, a most noteworthy attempt, indeed!).

At the very least, they could include Jackson as a 'creative consultant', or something of this nature. I disagreed with his reasons, as well as his dream team, as to the reasons for changing Tolkien's masterpiece when it went to film. That does not mean that I do not like the movies, though. They are quite consuming. It would be foolish, to say the least, to risk losing the profits that would come about from the two movies, as will probably happen without he and the cast members. Surely the production companies are farsighted enough to realize this. Or are they?

Can't they just see that Peter Jackson is the ONLY person who would do the best possible version of The Hobbit. Can't they see what he did for Lord of the Rings. Can't they just quit and let people with half a brain replace them!

I am so angry at this. New Line have officially dropped in my opinion. They've gone down through the ranks of film companies and are just peeking over the top of the manhole cover of the sewer of film history!
Infact the only thing keeping them from going all of the way is the fact that they did release Lord of the Rings.

Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh had the Vision to make both fans of the book and newcomers fall in love with Lord Of The Rings all over again, and started my love affair with New Zealand, probebly the most beutiful country and nicest people in the world.

Jackson's vision of The Lord of the Rings is already out there, like it or not. He should be given the opportunity to show us his own vision of The Hobbit, as it would naturally be closer to his version of The Lord of the Rings than any other director's could be. Even if your favorite author is Dostoevsky, you wouldn't want him to write a sequel to something by Hemingway or Fitzgerald.